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The winds of change are clearly blowing through the New York Mets organization, particularly when it comes to pitching development. Since the arrival of David Stearns, the Mets have seemingly unlocked a new level of pitching transformation at the major league level. This newfound prowess isn’t confined to Queens, however. Across the various minor league circuits and Mets affiliates, a palpable improvement in pitching staffs, especially their ability to generate swings and misses, has become increasingly evident this season.

According to Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Mets currently rank second in Major League Baseball in the sheer number of minor league pitchers boasting a strikeout rate of 30% or higher. This impressive statistic underscores that the Mets’ pitching infrastructure is evolving into a significant advantage not only at the MLB level but is also beginning to bear fruit within the farm system – a crucial area where the Mets have yearned for consistent success for quite some time.

Strikeout surge throughout Mets system

The Mets are now showcasing a wealth of promising pitching talent across all levels of their minor league affiliates. While the organization might not possess the same echelon of top-tier prospect pedigree it did in the previous decade, the potential within their bullpen ranks is undeniable. Many of the pitchers highlighted by Sammon in his recent post on X are demonstrating an exceptional ability to rack up strikeouts.

A compelling case in point is Raimon Gomez, whose electric velocity has garnered attention. He currently sports an impressive 36.4% strikeout rate while simultaneously inducing near-elite levels of weak contact, allowing a mere 12% hard-hit ball rate. Similarly, Jack Wenninger, a Double-A Mets pitcher, appears to be on a trajectory to contribute at the major league level sooner rather than later. His stellar strikeout-to-walk ratio highlights not only his ability to miss bats but also his commendable command.

Perhaps the most captivating pitching prospect within the Mets’ system since last season is Jonah Tong. This young left-hander, currently dominating hitters at the Double-A level, has put up staggering numbers.

According to Fangraphs, Tong boasts an absurd 44.7% strikeout rate, holding opposing hitters to a paltry .162 batting average, all while maintaining an ERA around 2.50 supported by an equally impressive Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP). Tong is joined on this list of high-strikeout arms by Blade Tidwell, who has already experienced his MLB debut, albeit in a less-than-efficient outing. However, Tidwell has consistently demonstrated a strong ability to limit damage during his time in the minor leagues.

The data clearly indicates a system-wide boost in pitching prowess. Among all eligible pitchers within their organization, the Mets boast at least 43 hurlers who are striking out batters at a rate of at least one per inning. This figure surpasses even the Boston Red Sox, the team cited by Sammon as leading the league in the percentage of minor league pitchers with a 30% or higher strikeout rate.

The burgeoning strikeout numbers throughout the Mets’ minor league system offer a compelling glimpse into a brighter future for the organization’s pitching depth. This wave of arms, capable of consistently missing bats, signals a significant step forward in the Mets’ long-term strategy and provides a much-needed foundation of talent that could pay dividends in the years to come.

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About 45 minutes prior to the start of the May 17 game between the Iowa Cubs and St. Paul Saints, pitcher Kenta Maeda walked to the outfield, shuffling past some fans who had been on the field for a pre-game catch.The moment offered a quick reminder that Maeda, who was getting ready to warm up for his start with Iowa, was once again back in the minor leagues and once again trying to prove he could pitch in the majors.The former star showed there’s still some convincing to do after he was roughed up in his organizational debut, surrendering four runs in just two innings of work for the Iowa Cubs at Principal Park.“We haven’t really done much since it’s only been a couple of days since joining the team,” Maeda said through a translator following the game. “So today’s outing wasn’t the best, obviously. But starting tomorrow is when we’ll dig deep into what the problem is and how I can fix myself and establish myself as a pitcher.”Maeda, who was released by the Detroit Tigers on May 7, stayed in shape ever since by throwing daily and getting in bullpen sessions at a university in town. While he was going through the wavier process, Maeda said his agent heard from several teams that were interested in him.

One of them was the Chicago Cubs. Maeda was intrigued by the club and figured they could help him following some recent struggles that included him tallying a 7.88 ERA in seven games out of the bullpen with the Tigers this season. So Maeda signed a minor league deal with the Cubs on May 16.

“I think this is a great organization for them to fix my problems and get me back on track. And I really want to be at the big-league level again,” Maeda said. “So I feel like this is a good spot and a good organization to be.”Maeda didn’t waste any time. One day after signing with the club, Maeda was tossed into Iowa’s starting rotation and made his debut with the Triple-A club. It didn’t last long, though.

Maeda lasted just two innings, giving up four runs (all earned) on four hits and two walks and one hit by pitch. St. Paul, the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, sent nine hitters to the plate in the first off Maeda.

Maeda gave up an RBI double to Jose Miranda and then a sacrifice fly to Jeferson Morales to put the Saints ahead 2-0. St. Paul’s Jair Camargo then ripped a two-run double off Maeda to give the Saints a 4-0 lead.

The second inning went much better for Maeda who worked around a two-out double without allowing a run. Maeda threw 56 total pitches including 31 for strikes. He topped out at 89.9 mph.

There was likely some rust to shake off for Maeda who hadn’t pitched in an official game since April 29 with the Tigers. Still, there are hopes that the right-hander, once one of the best pitchers in baseball, could help the Cubs.

“I think it shows that the Cubs have belief in me to get myself back on track and that goes with coaching and just looking over analysis and all of that,” he said. “So I’ll do my best on my part to respond to their expectations.”

The 37-year-old has pitched parts of nine seasons in the big leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins and most recently, the Tigers.

He’s won 68 games over the course of his career, even finishing second in the Cy Young Award voting in 2020. Now, he’s back in the minors trying to show he’s still got plenty left to offer.

“I think it’s a very fun environment,” Maeda said. “It keeps everything fun with the fan engagement as well as at the same time, this is a highly competitive environment and it’ll get me going with talking with the coaches and talking with the data analysts. I’ll just do everything I can to get back on track.”

Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468

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